Villa del Balbianello Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Villa del Balbianello. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Como, Bellagio & Varenna: Small Group from Milan with Boat Cruise

• Lake Como Authentic Private Lounge Cruise with Open Bar

• Lake Como Highlights–Villa Balbianello & Bellagio Exclusive Full-Day Tour

• Lake Como Private Boat Tour from Bellagio with a Local

• From Milan: Exclusive Boat, Lake Como, Bellagio, and Lugano Tour

Tickets to visit the gardens at Villa del Balbianello cost €15 for adults and €11 for children. You combine the gardens with a guided 45-minute tour of the villa, when available. There are also many tours featuring the villa, starting at around US$110. Note that Villa del Balbianello is open seasonally and on select days, so check ahead before planning a trip.

Yes, Villa del Balbianello is worth visiting. Not only does the historic villa have gorgeous views across Lake Como, but it also boasts manicured gardens and impressive interiors to explore. Film buffs love it, too, as the villa has been a set for scenes in movies including Casino Royale and Star Wars: Episode II.

Per one customer who booked the Lake Como Highlights—Villa Balbianello & Bellagio exclusive full-day tour, "This was a great way to have an overview of the lake, visit an amazing villa and beautiful gardens. It was a long day, but very lovely, and our guide was particularly informative and really knew the ins and outs and details of so many sites. Violeta was wonderful to spend the day with."

A guided tour inside Villa del Balbianello lasts about 45 minutes. Some visitors purchase a ticket that includes a tour of the villa’s interior plus access to the outdoor gardens, while others choose a ticket that only offers access to the gardens, where you can explore at your own pace.

The best time to visit Villa del Balbianello is in the morning. At this time of day, views are beautiful, and crowds are less than you might experience later in the afternoon. While tours of the villa are always limited to 10 people, a morning visit will offer a quiet experience in the gardens.

There are two ways to get to Villa del Balbianello: on foot and by taxi-boat. Reaching the villa directly by car, bus, or public transportation is impossible. Visitors either walk about 25 minutes from Lenno or utilize a taxi-boat service to arrive by a scenic boat ride on Lake Como.

Many movies were filmed at Villa Balbianello on Lake Como, including the James Bond film Casino Royale. Other movies include Star Wars Episode II and A Month at the Lake. Views of Lake Como from Villa Balbianello have been a favorite of film directors during recent decades.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Villa del Balbianello. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Lake Como:

• Villa Melzi Gardens (Giardini di Villa Melzi)

• Como-Brunate Funicular Railway (Funicolare Como-Brunate)

• Brunate

• Fort Montecchio Nord (Forte Montecchio Nord)

• Lido Villa Olmo

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Lake Como.